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'T 


Tiiiiii  iHiHiiillBilBPW 


■:M'^ 


I 


^^ 


HIAWATHA: 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  IROOUOIS  SAGE 


IN  PROSE  AND  VERSE. 


NEW  YORK : 

ANSON  D.  F.  RANDOLPH  &  CO. 

1873- 


7r 


W 

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af^yiHUWrwiWwf 


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PREFACE. 

In  presenting  the  following  observations  and  verses,  the 
writer  does  not  desire  to  appear  as  either  a  critic  or  a 
poet ;  the  object  being  rather  to  indicate  the  belief 
that  a  new  "Hiawatha"  is  among  the  possibilities  of 
the  future,  a  conviction  which  is  offered  in  connection 
with  a  rhymed  version  of  the  Story  of  Hiawatha,  as  given 
in  prose  by  a  descendant  of  the  Red  Men  skilled  in  the 
traditions  of  his  race.  The  observations  are  presented  in 
the  way  of  helpful  suggestions  ;  while  the  verses,  for  which 
no  merit  is  claimed,  may  at  least  add  some  interest  to  this 
brochure. 

New  York,  1873. 


■f.wf 


'■.!/ 


■;    ■ 


^ 


J 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The  Red  Man  in  North  America  has  alternately  been  the  vic- 
tim of  the  poet  and  the  politician.  The  wrongs  suffered  through 
the  emissaries  of  the  State  may  be  of  a  more  vital  character  than 
those  inflicted  by  the  Muse,  yet  they  cannot  be  more  real ;  for  it 
has  been  the  custom  of  the  poet  to  clothe  the  Red  Man  in  a 
histrionic  garb,  and  invest  him  with  exaggerated  action.  In 
literature  he  has,  therefore,  on  the  whole,  had  more  than  his  due. 
The  "  Noble  "  overshadows  the  "  I'oor  Indian."  Still  there  have 
been  exceptions  to  the  general  rule,  and  thus  a  great  character 
has  occasionally  been  allowed  to  stand  far  below  the  true  level. 
This,  perhaps,  has  been  the  case  with  Hiawatha,  the  Sage  of  the 
Iroquois. 

In  saying  this,  however,  I  have  no  desire  to  reflect  upon 
the  course  adopted  by  the  author  of  the  beautiful  poem  of 
"  Hiawatha."  His  representations  are,  in  the  main,  founded  on 
Indian  traditions.  He  has  drawn  the  character  of  Hiawatha  as 
the  Red  Men  themselves  have  often  represented  it.  Besides,  he 
had  a  perfect  right  to  choose  his  own  point  of  observation.  The 
liberty  that  the  circumstances  of  the  case  afford  has  not  been 
abused.  He  has  simply  selected  those  aspects  best  adapted  for 
pictorial  effect.  Yet  while  this  is  an  age  in  which  we  are  ac- 
customed to  view  a  story  on  its  most  winning  side,  we  are 
nevertheless  entitled  to  the  right  of  independent  judgment,  and 


■:» 


% 


i, 

!;.: 


INTRODUCTORY. 

to  the  use  of  the  same  liberty  as  is  accorded  to  the  Poet,  in  an 
effort  to  present  what  appears  to  lie  a  more  probable  view  of  the 
history  of  the  great  Irocjuois  Chief. 

At  a  time  like  the  present,  it  may  appear  a  somewhat  unprom- 
ising task  to  present  Hiawatha  as  anything:  like  a  historic  person, 
or  seek  to  preserve  the  name  frotii  the  atmosphere  of  grotesque 
fable.  Yet  this,  perhaps,  is  a  task  that  might  be  undertaken  ; 
for  when  wc  remember  how  easily,  with  the  lapse  of  time,  an 
individual,  even  in  civilized  society,  becomes  invested  with  an 
air  of  romance,  we  shall  hardly  feel  inclined  to  cpiestion  the  ex- 
istence of  the  tendency  among  rude  and  uncivilized  tribes. 

It  has  alieady  been  remarked  that  Mr.  Longfellow  was  per- 
fectly justified  in  presenting  that  view  of  the  Indian  Sage  which 
he  has  given  in  his  poem;  still  it  will  perhaps  prove  interesting 
to  employ  our  liberty  in  making  a  brief  comparison  of  the  Indian 
who  ajipears  on  his  page  with  the  Indian  found  among  the  better 
class  of  Algic  traditions;  that  is,  a  comparison  of  Hiawatha 
as  his  character  is  popularly  conceived,  and  Hiawatha  as  he 
possibly  was. 

How,  then,  does  the  character  of  Hiawatha  appear  in  the 
poem  of  Mr.  Longfellow? 

First,  however,  let  us  hear  what  Mr.  Schoolcraft  says  of  the 
sources  of  the  poet's  information. 

In  speaking  of  the  legends  upon  which  Mr.  Longfellow  has 
relied,  the  historian  says,  in  substance,  that  they  represent  Hia- 
watha on  the  whole,  as  an  impersonation  of  evil.  The  evil  is 
not,  indeed,  without  mitigation,  yet  the  essential  badness  of 
Hiawatha  is  combined  with  low  cunning,  ineffable  weakness, 

6 


wm 


'i 


•t,  in  an 
■w  of  the 

iinprom- 
ir  |)frson, 
I^TotL'sque 
lcrt;ikcn  ; 
■  time,  :in 
d  with  an 
in  the  cx- 
ibes. 

V  was  i)cr- 
aj»c  which 
interesting 
the  Indian 
^the  better 
Hiawatha 
[itha  as  he 

)car   in  the 

says  of  the 

gfellow  has 
resent  Hia- 
The  evil  is 
badness  of 
f  weakness, 


INTRODUCTOKV. 

and  the  paltriest  ambition.  Consequently  we  find  that  the  char- 
acter which  the  poet  represents,  continually  reminds  us  of  its 
origin.  Certain  (jualities  may  be  depressed,  and  some  may  be 
exaggerated,  while  others  may  be  left  out  altogether,  and  yet  the 
feeble  trickster  is  alwavs  there,  holding  himself  up  to  view  amid 
all  the  affluence  of  rhythm  and  imagery  and  art,  as  a  compound 
of  opposite  and  often  contemptililc  qualities.  This,  once  more 
let  it  be  remembered,  I  state,  not  as  a  fault,  but  as  A/acf. 

I  might,  perhaps,  have  been  told  at  the  outset  that  similar 
characters  aliound  everywhere  in  history.  There,  for  instance, 
is  Josheka  of  the  Algonquins ;  who  finds  a  parallel,  in  turn, 
among  the  mythical  creations  of  the  distant  South.  Why  not, 
then,  place  the  story  of  Hiawatha  with  his?  To  this  it  may  be 
replied  that,  while  found  among  them,  it  is  not  of  them.  The 
story  of  Hiawatha  evidently  belongs  to  a  more  modern  age,  and 
is  not  by  any  means  to  be  properly  included  in  the  class  of 
myths  at  all.  The  story  is  essentially  of  the  nature  of  a  h't^cnti. 
It  does  not  deal  with  a  quality.  It  sets  forth  no  trancendental 
truth.  It  rather  tells  the  story  of  a  life,  and  gives,  seemingly, 
amid  all  its  wild  exaggerations,  a  modicum  of  historic  truth.  Let 
us,  therefore,  endeavor  to  make  this  more  apparent. 

In  dealing  with  the  native  tribes  of  America,  the  historian  has 
generally  given  almost  exclusive  prominence  to  the  two  branches 
that  so  strongly  established  themselves  in  Mexico  and  I'cru. 
And  yet  the  famous  Confederacy  of  the  Iroquois  or  Five  Nations, 
was  established  not  more  than  one  or  two  centuries  after  the 
Mexican  and  Peruvian  monarchies,  and  is  quite  as  worthy, 
in  many  respects,  of  high  consideration.     Especially  does  this 

7 


■s. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


appear  to  be  the  case  in  connection  with  the  present  subject,  for 
the  reason  that  this  Confederacy  of  the  Iroquois  was  founded 
through  the  agency  of  Hiawatha,  a  fact  that  Mr.  Longfellow's 
poem  does  not  set  forth.  This  brings  the  hero  within  compara- 
tively modern  times,  somewhere  near  the  thirteenth  century. 

Until  about  this  period  the  five  natirns  composing  the  league 
were  widely  scattered  over  large  portions  of  the  country.  But 
an  invasion  from  the  north  led  them,  under  the  guidance  of 
Hiawatha,  to  unite  for  the  extirpation  of  the  common  foe.  The 
League  of  the  Iroquois  was  fashioned  after  the  Greek  Amphic- 
tyonic  League,  and  while  the  union  was  real  and  practical,  each 
of  the  five  banded  tribes  was  left  with  its  separate  and  sovereign 
right.  And  so  conscious  were  the  Indian  leaders  of  the  wisdom 
and  advantages  of  their  system,  that  in  the  year  1774,  they 
gravely  urged  it  upon  the  representatives  of  the  Colonies  for  the 
acceptance  of  the  American  people.  Republicanism  did  not 
begin  with  Greece,  nor  was  it  the  exclusive  issue  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution,  The  white  man  may  be  slow  to  recognize  the 
fact,  yet  it  is  nevertheless  not  too  much  to  affirm,  that  essential 
republicanism  in  this  country  began  with  the  League  of  the  Five 
Nations,  who  were  taught  the  advantages  of  the  system  by  Hia- 
watha ;  all  of  which  is  worthy  of  finding  expression  in  a  pecu- 
liarly Amcri  'an  poem. 

What  we  may  call  the  historic  character  of  Hiawatha  forms  a 
distinct  point  which  the  writer  desires  to  present  and  keep  in 
view  ;  .and  yet  there  is  the  separate  inquiry,  namely,  whether  we 
have  ground  for  claiming  a  loftier  character  for  Hiawatha,  and 


T 


ibject,  for 
5  founded 
ngfcUow's 
compara- 
intury. 

the  league 
ntry.  But 
uidance  of 

foe.  The 
ik  Amphic- 
ctical,  each 
d  sovereign 
the  wisdom 

1774.  they 
)nles  for  the 
5m  did  not 
■  the  Ameri- 
ecognize  the 
lat  essential 
e  of  the  Five 
item  by  Hia- 
n  in  a  pecu- 


/atha  forms  a 
and  keep  in 
^,  whether  we 
liawatha,  and 


INTRODUCTORY. 

one  everyway  more  dignified  and  pure,  than  the  conception  now 
before  the  people. 

The  eccentric  Thoreau  used  sometimes  to  wonder  what  it  was 
in  the  character  of  Christ  that  made  ii  certain  bishop  so  bigoted. 
But  Thoreau  was  not  sure'of  his  fact.  There  was  not  anything 
in  the  great  heart  of  the  Galilean  to  make  a  man  bigoted.  We 
may  nevertheless  inquire  what  there  was  in  the  character  of  Hia- 
watha to  secure  the  Red  Man's  universal  veneration.  They  cer- 
tainly paid  no  respect  to  a  quality  under  the  form  of  a  person, 
and  therefore  are  we  at  liberty  to  infer  that  it  was  the  person 
himself,  in  whom  certain  great  qualities  were  found. 

The  versions  of  the  Indian  legend  which  has  heretofore  been 
followed  come  from  every  quarter  of  North  America,  and  are 
marked  by  all  that  is  puerile,  extravagant  and  ridiculous  ;  yet  we 
have  another  version  which  is  the  peculiar  product  of  the  Iroquois 
mind,  and  therefore  characterized  by  the  same  degree  of  supe- 
riority that  must  be  confessed  as  attending  the  thoughts  of  the 
people  of  that  Confederacy.  This  version  of  the  story  of  Hia- 
watha is  free  from  all  that  is  low,  puerile,  sensual  and  absurd, 
and  commands  respect  by  its  dignity,  consistency  and  general 
effect.  The  style  of  the  narrative  is  comprehensive,  the  contents 
brief,  and  thus  the  story  is  sooii  told. 

From  a  consideration  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  it  would  seem, 
therefore,  as  if  there  were  room  for  a  new  Hiawatha.  Yet  when 
Hiawatha  comes  he  must  not  be  too  historical.  He  must  speak 
to  us  a  long  way  off.  His  voice  must  come  sounding  down  from 
distant  times.  Here,  then,  might  be  suggested  a  substantial 
improvement   on   the   present   Hiawatha,   where  we  have  the 

9 


INTRODUCTORY. 


A      Vipre  they  appea'' 
,e„,,,  i„.™d«ccd  without  »"*°;^Vi?;^ti™  Fathers  in  o-  of 

:boo^'7cr^--^^^^ 

ascend  to  heaven,  we  read: 

He  the  west  of  prayer,  the  Pale  face, 
WUhhU  guides  ancnuscompan,ons. 

..And  the  noble  Hiawatha, 
With  his  hands  aloft  extended. 
Held  aloft  in  sign  of  welcome, 

Waited,  full  of  exultation, 
S'lhe' birch  canoe  with  pad  les 

Grated  on  the  shining  pebbles, 

With  the  cross  upon  his  bosom. 
Landed  on  the  sandy  margin. 

™,  ct...,  is  an  an^chroni,.,  *.  ""^'^^r.f  JXeT. 

Slhf:  orX:  i:r  r  t  n».ne  tin.^..  .*,  -el.;^ 
Sacteriscve,,«asovcrs.a..d^H^«  b,,egend.s 

tloWs  pa.es  '» -^f^  caseh.Ts  H.idly  devo.t,  end  .n  the 
quite  another.     In  the  on  ^^ 


appear 
In  one  of 
about  to 


too  modern, 
;d  where  he 
)w  lepresents 
the  Iroquois 
through  the 
live  religious 
ng"  in  Long- 
i  the  legend  is 
Lit,  and  in  the 


INTRODUCTORY, 

other  he  is  overflowing  with  characteristic  mischief  and  fun,  steal- 
ing jovially  away  from  his  secluded  praying  lodge,  to  watch  his 
grandmother,  who  surreptitiously,  in  his  absence  from  home,  en- 
tertains a  huge  black  bear.  The  legend  paraphrased  in  the 
verses  that  follow  this  introduction  do  not  treat  of  that  matter  at 
all. 

In  the  Iroquois  legend  used  in  the  present  case,  we  look  in 
vain  for  anything  that  essentially  detracts  from  his  dignity, 
goodness  and  worth  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  legend  is  free 
from  anachronisms.  Hiawatha  does  not  enter  into  the  thoughts 
of  the  seventeenth  century,  when  the  Jesuit  roamed  the  Ameri- 
can woods,  and  bought  at  any  price  the  privilege  of  sending 
an  Indian  child  to  heaven  with  a  drop  of  dew.  The  date  of 
Hiawatha's  death  is  synchronous  with  the  perfect  establishment 
of  the  Iroquois  League,  which  had  already  arrived  at  the  height 
of  its  glory,  and  was  the  dominant  Indian  power  on  the  North 
American  continent  before  the  white  man  encroached  upon  the 
soil.  The  Iroquois  tradition,  indeed,  confounds  Hiawatha  with 
the  more  uncertain  Tarenyawago,  yet  he  soon  emerges  in  the 
narrative  with  a  new  name,  and  appears  before  the  antiquary,  as 
he  probably  was,  bearing  a  lofty,  consistent  character,  shedding 
equal  lustre  upon  himself  and  upon  the  fortunes  of  his  tribe. 
Such  a  character  hardly  deserves  to  be  buried  under  the  debris 
of  ridiculous  fable,  or  stand  in  the  rank  with  Yennadizze  the  Idle. 
The  Indian  annals  show  only  one  such  comprehensive  and 
beneficent  character,  and,  therefore,  why  not  let  the  Red  Man 
dnjoy  its  benefit  ? 

It  may  indeed  be  said  that  the  character  of  Hiawatha,  even  as 

II 


INTRODUCTORY. 


!►    ► 


given  by  the  Iroquois,  is  unreal ;  yet  it  should  be  remembered 
that  a  thirteenth-century  myth  could  not  well  found  a  govern- 
ment, or  administer  laws.  There  must  have  been  somewhere 
a  powerful  organizing  mind — a  real  personality  ;  for  the  work 
done  was  both  permanent  and  great.  All  this  implies  a  great 
worker.     And  may  not  that  worker  have  been  Hiawatha  ? 

The  conception  of  Hiawatha  embodied  in  the  following  lines, 
is  therefore  offered  as  more  consistent  and  dignified  than  that 
popularly  entertained,  and  which  makes  the  heaven-born  Hia- 
watha appear  contemptible,  by  reducing  him,  without  reason,  to 
all  the  ordinary  straits  of  the  Red  Man,  and  leads  him  to  de?ire 
conflicts  he  cannot  support  and  dangers  before  which  he  qua^iS. 
In  the  Iroquois  version,  the  character  of  Hiawatha  and  the  inci- 
dents of  his  life  are  always  invested  with  unity  and  dignity.  He 
never  appears  childish,  but  always  bears  himself  with  the  aspect 
and  temper  of  the  sage.  Indeed,  the  character  is  drawn  so  true 
to  nature,  that  we  are  led  to  the  conclusion  that  such  a  person  of 
Hiawatha  once  lived,  and  that  his  course  as  a  public  teacher 
and  benefactor  in  the  after  times  led  the  Five  Nations  to  in- 
vest him  with  supernatural  wisdom  and  power,  and  to  assign 
him  a  fitting  end.  Thus  it  was  with  the  Northman's  Odin, 
who,  after  dying  in  his  bed,  like  an  ordinary  mortal,  was 
nevertheless,  in  course  of  time,  invested  with  the  character 
and  attributes  of  a  god.  And  it  is  probable  that  Hiawatha  was 
no  more  a  myth  than  Odin,  but  that  both  were  historical  charac- 
ters ;  Indian  tradition  having  left  the  latter  elevated  high  above 
the  common  walks  of  life,  as  given,  beyond  the  ordinary  race 
of  mortals,  to  wise,  heroic  and  beneficent  deeds.    Those  persons 

13 


INTRODUCTORY. 

inclined  to  doubt  this,  should  endeavor  to  tell  us  who  it  was 
that  formed  the  American  Amphictyonic  League  ;  who  gave  the 
Iroquois  legislation  and  laws ;  who,  by  the  power  of  his  genius, 
banded  the  P'ive  Nations  into  one ;  and  who,  by  the  force  of 
his  example  and  the  purity  of  his  precepts,  cemented  the 
great  fabric  which  stood  for  many  generations  in  the  heart  of 
America  as  a  refuge  for  those  people  not  exactly  included 
within  the  League,  but  who,  nevertheless,  as  history  declares, 
found  it  as  refreshing  in  their  day  as  the  shadow  of  a  great 
rock  in  a  weary  land. 


>3 


1 


H 


-^^b^EBtuS^^ 


HIAWATHA. 


Tarenyawaoo,  from  the  West  Wind  sprung, 

Revered  in  Council  and  in  story  sung, 

A  chief  to  Manitou  allied  by  birth, 

With  his  approval  once  appeared  on  earth, 

To  guide  the  Red  Man  by  his  counsels  wise, 

And  ope  the  passage  to  immortal  skies: 

Hear,  then,  the  story  of  the  Wind-born'  Sage, 

The  wondrous  prophet  of  a  distant  age, 

As  told  in  wigwams  on  Tioga's  shore 

By  ancient  chieftains  of  the  Iroquois. 

The  Benefactor. 

Tarenyawago,  through  tl  at  North-land  wide, 

Whose  woods  and  waters  were  the  Red  Man's  pride, 

Taught  useful  knowledge,  and  each  cunning  cure 

That  simples  furnish  or  deep  spells  assure ; 

Showed  how  to  foster  the  green-springing  corn, 
i6 


MU-- 


HIAWATHA. 


pride, 
ire 


And  beans  bright-blossomed  that  the  fields  adorn, 

Where  gourds  grew  portly  all  the  summer  day, 

And  juicy  melons  in  the  sunshine  lay. 

The  bubbling  fountains  he  revealed  with  skill. 

Deep  dredged  each  streamlet,  and  explored  each  rill. 

Made  roomy  passage  for  the  finny  tribe, 

Then  easy  taken  by  the  fisiier's  bribe  ; 

Slew  furious  monsters  that  o'er  ran  the  land. 

And  thus  gave  safety  to  each  roving  band. 

In  wisdom,  equal  to  his  wondrous  strength, 

The  race  revered  him  through  the  land's  great  length, 

And  chiefs,  who  listened  to  his  wholesome  speech, 

Oft  foremost  stations  in  the  tribes  would  reach. 

Tarenyawago  also  kindly  gave 

Alike  to  chieftain  and  to  common  brave, 

Much  deep  instruction  in  the  simple  law 

Reveal'd  by  Manitou  for  Iroquois. 

The  Magic  Canoe. 
Where'er  he  journeyed,  his  light-built  canoe. 
In  swift  obedience  without  paddle  flew ; 


/) 

■>,' 


"Ai^^i^ii':    •: 


HIAWATHA. 

His  wish  propelled  it  up  the  tugging  stream, 
And  drove  it  onward  where  the  rapids  gleam, 
To  breast  the  eddies  'neath  the  granite  wall, 
To  skim  the  surges,  or  to  leap  the  fall. 
On  land,  the  birch-boat  was  obedient  still, 
And  felt  the  magic  of  his  wondrous  will ; 
For  at  his  bidding  it  quick  rose  to  bear 
Its  mystic  master  on  the  trembling  air, 
And  thus  he  darted  through  the  sunny  sky. 
Where  dizzy  mountains  in  the  haze  rush  by, 
And  over  valleys  clad  in  robes  of  green. 
Which  rivers  broider  with  their  silver  sheen. 

Retirement. 

Tarenyawago,  when  his  work  was  done, 

The  people  being  to  his  teachings  won, 

Next  laid  the  office  of  a  seer  aside. 

Though  sounding  plaudits  fill  the  North-land  wide, 

And  seeks  in  private  his  short  day  to  spend, 

Until,  predestined,  his  career  should  end : 
i8 


r  r 


HIAWATHA. 


For,  with  the  precept,  it  is  his  to  give 

A  life  that  teaches  how  the  Just  should  live. 


Hiawatha  at  Home. 

His  home,  well-ordered,  on  Tioga's  bank, 
In  style  adapted  to  the  humble  rank, 
Which  Hiawatha  with  his  people  bears. 
The  usual  aspect  of  the  Red  Man  wears. 
Naught  ever  marks  him  from  his  neighbors  round, 
Except  his  sanctity  and  well-tilled  ground, 
Where  all  the  husbandry  that  masters  know 
His  faultless  corn-fields  in  their  culture  show. 
Yet  ne'er  he's  wanting  in  the  homage  due, 
For  chiefs  divided  towards  Tioga  drew, 
And  came  from  regions  both  remote  and  near 
To  pour  their  cases  in  his  patient  ear. 
Tarenyawago,  him  they  cease  to  call, 
But  "  Hiawatha,"  or.  Surpassing  All 
In  Lofty  Wisdom,  is  the  peerless  name 
They  give  to  signify  his  rightful  fame. 
19 


HIAWATHA. 

Touched  by  the  passion  e'en  immortals  share, 
His  heart  was  raptured  by  a  maiden  fair, 
And  soon,  tlius  livinj,',  knew  t  would  not  he  life 
Without  tills  maiden  for  his  prudent  wife. 
My  I  haste  advances,  he  makes  known  his  love. 
When  Kil)blanene,  or  the  (icntle  Dove 
Dissimulation  and  concealment  tries, 
With  face  averted  and  with  down-cast  eyes ; 
But  tell-tale  blushes  soon  perform  their  part, 
When  glad  she  nestles  on  her  lover's  heart. 

The  Niifiliah. 

With  tender  watchfulness  they  bear  his  bride 

Where  stands  the  wij;wam  by  Tioga's*  side, 

Adorned  and  furnished  in  becoming  state 

For  Hiawatha  and  his  gentle  mate. 

Three  days  of  revels  are  nf.xt  quickly  spent, 

With  mirthful  dances  and  hijjh  feasting  blent ; 

Which  done,  the  people  take  their  homeward  way, 

And  leave  the  lovers  with  each  livelong  day. 

Then  moons,  oft  waning,  lost  their  silver  sheen, 
30 


HIAWATHA. 


Hut  in  the  wigwam,  uncclipscd,  wa»  seen 
The  tender  lustre  of  love's  constant  star, 
Which  flitting  soul-cluuds  had  no  power  to  mar. 

iMloona. 
The  Onondaga*  now  crclonjj  rejoice 
To  learn  the  wi>;wiim  knows  a  little  voice. 
Oft  Hiawatha  takes  the  welcome  ^ucst 
And  clasps  her  fondly  to  his  manly  breast ; 
And,  while  her  soft  eyes  view  life's  early  dawn, 
Laloona  names  her,  or  the  Little  Fawn. 
Thus  years  of  plenty  roll  serenely  by. 
And  tribes  in  hunting  with  each  other  vie  ; 
While  sweet  Laloona,  to  a  woman  jjrown, 
For  gentle  beauty  and  high  worth  is  known. 

The  Summons. 

Then  from  the  water  Hiawatha  drew 
His  talismanic  and  far-famed  canoe, 
Nor  used  it  ever,  save  when  strong  desire 
Led  the  great  Prophet  to  the  council-fire. 


1i 


HIAWATHA. 

At  last  the  limits  of  long  peace  drew  near, 

And  all  the  borders  were  deep  stirred  by  fear ; 

For  hostile  warriors  from  the  Great  Cold  Lake 

The  southern  war-path  in  fell  fury  take 

In  countless  numbers,  and  the  war-whoop  rose 

With  vengeful  fury  from  their  ancient  foes. 

While  through  the  people  spread  the  deep  dismay, 

The  leaders,  anxious,  took  their  silent  way 

To  Hiawatha,  whom,  serene,  they  found 

Among  the  corn-rows  of  his  well-tilled  ground. 

The  issue  stated,  and  his  counsel  sought : 

The  wise  man  warned  them  not  to  spend  for  naught 

The  people's  courage,  but  united  stand. 

And  meet  the  inroads  of  th'  invading  band ; 

Hence  call  a  council,  and  a  compact  make 

By  Onondaga's  deep,  wide-spreading  lake. 


The  Assembly. 

Thus  Hiawatha  his  wise  counsel  gave, 

Which,  through  the  forest,  flew  from  brave  to  brave. 

32 


HIAWATHA. 


ght 


ive. 


Then  quick  each  leader  tribal  aims  forgot, 
And  marched  with  ardor  to  the  chosen  spot, 
Where  soon  assembled  a  dark,  bronzed  crowd 
Of  squaws  and  children  and  of  chieftains  proiid, 
Thus  by  misfortune  to  the  council  brought. 
Each  mind  with  projects  of  relief  deep  fraught. 
But  Hiawatha  to  the  place  ne'er  came, 
And  expectation  soon  began  to  wane. 
When  envoys,  going  to  Tioga's  wood, 
Where  stayed  the  master  in  abstracted  mood, 
Told  the  great  Prophet  their  unfeigned  desire 
To  greet  his  presence  at  the  council-fire. 

The  Journey. 
Aroused,  he  enters  his  far-famed  canoe, 
Which  erst  on  water  as  on  air  swift  flew. 
His  loved  Laloona  at  the  graceful  prow, — 
For  ne'er  he  travels  from  Tioga  now 
Without  the  maiden,  his  great  people's  pride, 
In  whom  brave  chieftains  vainly  sought  a  bride. 
First,  slowly  moving,  with  the  stream  they  drift, 
23 


Ofr 


HIAWATHA. 

Till  near  the  entrance  of  So-ha-ri's*  rift, 

When  Hiawatha,  by  the  mystic  spell, 

Whose  cunning  magic  it  obeys  full  well. 

His  bark  drove  onward  past  the  waving  brake, 

And  swiftly  enters  Onondaga's  Lake. 

When  seen  approaching  the  long-circling  shore, 

By  murky  camp  smoke  high  dull-bannered  o'er, 

The  people  wildly  run  the  banks  about 

And  raise  their  voices  in  a  joyous  shout. 

The  magic  vessel  now  shoots  up  the  strand. 

While  stalwart  chieftains  grasp  the  Prophet's  hand, 

And  with  such  honor  as  the  brave  deems  due 

Receive  Laloona  from  the  light  canoe. 

TAe  Bird  of  Fate. 

The  Sage  in  silence  toward  the  Council-place, 
Then  walks  with  dignity  and  high  born  grace, 
Laloona  moving  with  a  regal  mien. 
That  tells  the  presence  of  the  Indian  Queen. 
But,  scarce  arriving  on  the  moss-grown  bank, 


lOL 


7 


nd, 


HIAWATHA. 

Where  sits  the  Council  in  well-ordered  rank. 
A  dreadful  portent  soon  on  hig'..  appears. 
While  muttered  thunder  smites  on  savage  cars  ; 
For.  looking  upward  in  the  fair  blue  sky. 
A  white-plumed  Eagle  they  now  clear  descry. 
Which,  first,  a  hand-breadth,  next  appears  a  cloud. 
A  bird,  whose  pinions  e'en  the  sunbeams  shroud, 
A  thing  of  monstrous  and  unseemly  birth, 
Now  swooping  swiftly  toward  the  verdant  earth. 
Then  soon  pale  terror  strikes  the  tawny  host. 
Whose  oft-tried  courage  was  the  people's  boast. 
For  ranks  of  sachems  in  disorder  break, 
And,  flying,  refuge  in  the  deep  woods  take. 

The  Death  of  Laloona. 
Hut  Hiawatha,  calm,  alone  stocd  still. 
Proud  on  the  summit  of  the  Council-hill.* 
His  peerless  daughter  by  his  aged  side. 
Prepared  the  issue  of  the  hour  to  bide. 
Yet  Fate,  who  never  to  the  wisest  gave 
The  briefest  respite,  or  the  great  and  brave 
25 


'irw'ii 


HIAWATHA. 

Indulged  one  instant  past  the  hapless  hour, 

Stays  not  for  Beauty  his  relentless  power ; 

For,  as  the  comet  trails  the  azure  sky. 

On  rushing  pinion  the  great  bird  draws  nigh. 

And,  after  circling  through  the  mid-air  round. 

Smites  fair  Laloona  to  the  mossy  ground  ! 

His  beak  transfixing  her  devoted  breast, 

Swift  sends  her  spirit  to  the  realm  of  rest. 

But,  see  !  the  Eagle,  is  itself  laid  low, 

Slain  by  the  fury  of  the  vengeful  blow ; 

And  thus,  deprived  of  his  lusty  breath. 

With  powerless  pinions  he  lies  stretched  in  death. 

The  aged  Prophet  felt  the  air's  dread  rush, 

And  saw  the  life-blood  from  his  daughter  gush, 

Yet,  calm,  he  stirred  not  from  his  standing  place. 

Nor  moved  a  muscle  of  his  bronzed  face, 

But  saw  serenely,  as  becomes  the  brave. 

The  awful  judgment  the  Great  Spirit  gave. 

The  Vow. 

At  distance,  peering  from  a  moss-grown  rock, 
26 


:  t- 


H. 


z:^ 


"Wiff 


*iw'<«iipi(n9n!i«9ffia?PRa<mp 


th. 

I, 
ce, 


HIAWATHA. 

Some  frightened  warriors  felt  the  fatal  shock, 
And  now,  returning,  they  upheave  the  bird; 
But  marvels  cease  not,  and  they  speak  no  word, 
When  'neath  the  Eagle's  white  far-spreading  wing. 
Which  six  strong  warriors  now  could  scarce  upfling. 
No  trace  they  noted  of  the  lovely  maid 
Thus  strangely  summoned  to  the  land  of  shade. 
Then  came  each  savage  and  with  dreadful  vow 
Pluck'd  a  white  feather  for  his  painted  brow. 
And  ever  after  on  the  war-path  wore 
This  dread  insignia  of  the  Iroquois.' 

In  Council. 
When  all  was  over  and  the  sad  truth  known, 
Great  Hiawatha  sat  aside  alone. 
His  soul  keen  smarting  with  the  cutting  grief, 
For  which  the  Prophet  could  find  no  relief. 
But,  called  from  sorrow  by  the  people's  woes, 
Soon  to  the  Council  the  great  Sachem  goes, 
And,  clad  in  wolf-skin,  takes  the  master's  seat, 
Prepared  the  issue  of  the  tribes  to  meet ; 
27 


HIAWATHA. 

Hearing  each  caution  that  the  wise  men  gave 
With  hot  invective  of  the  valliant  brave. 
One  day  quick  passes  in  discursive  speech ; 
But  when  the  issue  on  the  next  they  reach, 
Gicat  Hiawatha,  from  his  lofty  place, 
Slow  rising,  counsels  with  superior  grace. 


;- 


Himvathas  Speech. 

Friends,  Brothers,  Leaders  of  the  valiant  bands. 

Whose  wigwams  cover  our  wide-spreading  lands, 

In  vain  you,  singly,  fight  the  dreaded  foe. 

Whose  coming  portends  a  great  people's  woe ; 

In  vain  you  struggle  with  the  Northern  hordes. 

While  still  you  follow  your  divided  lords : 

Unite  your  forces  for  the  common  weal. 

And  thus  your  vengeance  shall  the  foeman  feel. 

You,  warlike  Mohawks,  by  your  Tall  I'ine  Tree,* 

The  first  great  people  in  the  League  shall  be. 

You,  Brave  Oneidas,  'gainst  the  Lasting  Stone, 

Recline  the  second,  and  ne'er  fight  alone. 
38 


\  r 


Is, 


■  A<^  (1! 


HIAWATHA. 

You,  Onondagas,  by  the  Shclt'ring  Hills, 

With  crags  deep-frcttcd  by  the  plunging  rills. 

Whose  voice  well-freighted  with  wise  speech  is  heard, 

Shall  take  your  order  in  the  League,  the  third. 

Next,  Senecas,  who  in  the  Wild-wood  dwell. 

And  know  each  danger  of  the  chase  full  well, 

Superior  Hunters,  for  your  noble  worth 

In  our  great  compact  you  shall  stand  the  fourth. 

And  Wise  Cayugas  of  the  Open  Field, 

Whose  grounds  to  culture  give  uncommon  yield, 

Well  Housed,  among  us,  you  the  fifth  shall  stand 

In  serried  order  with  the  common  band: 

To  feebler  people,'  who  for  aid  may  call, 

We  give  the  friendship  and  the  strength  of  all. 

And  thus,  united,  we  shall  honored  be. 

While  all  the  borders  of  the  land  are  free. 

Rise,  Braves!  and  arm  you  in  united  might, 

And  meet  the  foeman  in  the  deadly  fight, 

Thus  the  Great  Spirit  on  your  League  will  smile, 

And  give  you  wisdom  to  meet  every  wile  ; 
29 


HIAWATHA. 

But  scorn  this  counsel,  and  his  awful  frown 
Shall  blight  each  village  and  the  sorrow  crown. 
While  you,  forgotten  by  our  ancient  race. 
Shall  fall  unpitied  from  your  honored  place, 
Enslaved  and  ruined  by  the  ruthless  foe. 
Who  now  stands  ready  for  the  fatal  blow. 


b-. 


The  Confirmation. 

Tl.us,  Hiawatha  :  and  each  burning  word 
With  deathless  ardor  the  great  Council  stirred  ; 
And,  with  the  tumult  of  prolonged  applause, 
The  tribes  pledged  union  for  the  common  cause  : 
In  days  that  followed  the  invader  knew 
What  signal  prowess  from  that  compact  grew. 

The  Translation. 

His  mission  ended  to  the  sun-bright  earth, 

The  Seer  reminds  them  of  his  wondrous  birth. 

And,  though  the  people  his  great  presence  prize. 

Prepares  to  journey  towards  the  distant  skies. 
30 


7 


! 


HIAWATHA. 

Again  he  bids  them  with  united  voice. 
Maintain  the  compact  of  their  willing  choice. 
Much  weighty  counsel  with  his  blessing  gave. 
With  special  caution  to  each  eager  brave; 
Then,  viewing  sadly  the  Assembly  o'er. 
Walked  down  in  silence  »o  the  sandy  shore. 
Assumed  meet  posture  in  the  charmed  canoe. 
Which  still  the  magic  of  the  Master  knew. 
Laid  on  the  gunwale  his  thin,  shrunken  hand. 
And  slowly  parted  from  the  crowded  strand. 
First,  moving  lightly  o'er  the  shining  mere. 
Urged  by  the  power  of  the  mighty  Seer. 
The  bark  went  onward  for  a  little  way. 
And  passed  the  entrance  of  the  golden  bay; 
Then  rose  majestic  on  the  evening  air.— 
Slow  sailing  upward  to  those  regions  fair 
That  ope  their  portals  to  the  setting  sun. 
With  regal  splendor  when  his  course  is  run.- 
While  sweetest  music  filled  each  savage  ear. 
And  swelled  in  peans  such  as  angels  hear. 
31 


■11 


1_ 


HIAWATHA. 

Thus,  Hiawatha  nearcd  the  happy  coast, 
Of  bright  Owaync  and  his  winged  host; 
When  forth  to  meet  him  went  a  shining  band 
That  led  the  Prophet  to  the  lUessed  Land. 

Such  is  the  story  that  a  simple  r.ice 
Oft  told  in  wigwams  with  untutored  grace; 
Hence  came  the  compact  and  far-reaching  law 
That  bound  the  peoples  of  the  Iroquois, 
And  when  long  ages  had  their  cycle  tun, 
The  C'.rcat  Five  Nations  left  allied  as  One. 


33 


I 


NOTES. 

1,  Page  16.  HiAWiithn'fi  mother,  a  desceiidiint  of  the  daughter  of  the  Moon, 
wax  susceptibb  to  the  influence  of  the  West  Wind,  which  became  the 
frtttver  of  Hinwatha,  or  "  Mannbozho,"  In  the  legend,  now  paraphrased 
at  a  disadvantage,  the  wife  of  Hiawatha  disappears  without  mention, 
evidently  not  dying  young. 

3,  P.ige  ao.  Tioga  Lake  is  now  called  '  Cross  Lake."  The  Indian  name 
was   Tt-MHi^k-too.     It  is  reached  by  the  Seneca  River. 

3,  Page  34.  So-ha-ri's  rift  is  the  passage  through  which  the  waters  of  the 
Onondaga  Lake  flow  into  the  Seneca  River,  on  its  way  to  Lake  Ontario. 

4,  Page  95.  It  Is  the  unanimous  opinion  that  the  League  of  the  Iroquois 
was  formed  on  the  bank  of  the  Onondaga. 

5,  Page  37.  The  Eagle's  feather  is  the  sijn  of  these  banded  tribes,  I  give 
the  word  Iroquois  an  arbitrary  pronunciation. 

6,  Page  38.  The  characteristics  of  each  of  the  five  tribes  are  given  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  best  authorities.  The  famous  Hrant,  whose  Indian 
name  was  Thayendtrtgea,  signifying  a  Bundle  of  Sticks,  or  Strength, 
was  one  of  the  most  famous  (Jhiefs  of  the  Confederacy.  The  well  known 
Redjacket  was  his  Son. 

7,  Page  39.  A  few  lesser  tribes  that  came  under  the  patronage  of  the 
League  are  sometimes  known  as  a  Sixth  Nation.  A  remnant  of  the  On- 
ondagas  still  remain  in  New  York  State,  near  Syracuse. 


mm 


7 


